One year ago, on my 24th birthday, one of my life's fairy tales unfolded before my very eyes. The Fiance got down on a knee, presented me with the most incredibly beautiful ring I have ever seen, and asked me to be his wife. And saying yes was by far the best decision I've ever made.

At 24, I began planning a wedding. I took two classes in summer school, I worked at the same summer job I had worked at the 3 previous summers. I came home in August and began my second year of work at a job I didn't like.

At 24, I also made the second most important decision of my life. I chose to have an invasive neurosurgery that changed my life. I spent months recovering, I dealt with setbacks and pain. I fought through the fears, the physical therapy, the follow up tests and struggles and I can tell you beyond a shadow of doubt, that I am better today for having made that decision. My quality of life is better than it has ever been, I feel more like me than I have in years.

At 24, I faced a scare that most women my age will not face for another 20 years, if ever. I had a surgery that removed 1/4th of my breast. I received news that my chances of developing breast cancer are 5 times greater than the norm. I cried, I yelled, I prayed, I struggled, and ultimately, I learned and I accepted it. This is my life and I plan on being around for a really long time.

At 24, I struggled with doubts, fears, anxiety and arguably, some periods of depression. But I believe that I have come out ahead. I have learned, I have grown, I have become a person I want to be. I have taken control of my life and started making decisions for me. For my future.

At 24, I rediscovered myself. I began to look ahead instead of behind me. And though I've only lived a few hours as a 25 year old woman, I have a feeling that this might be the best year yet. Not because I can rent cars now or because I'm officially a half-century old (please stop reminding me of that), but because of what I have endured, because of all the things that happened at 24.

At 25, I will be marry the person that I love more than anything or anyone else in the universe. I will begin a new job, I will take the first real steps to get into a graduate program that will allow me to (eventually) do what I want to do. I will live my life and not take it for granted. I will be me and I will be happy.

24 was a year of trials and a year of growth. 25 is shaping up to be a year of beginnings. And I can't wait to see how everything turns out.

Happy Birthday! It sounds like you are on your way to an optimistic and productive year. If it makes you feel any better -- you are only a mere quarter of a century old! Have a great day, beautiful wedding, and more days of good health than not.

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About Me

I'm a 26 year old former teacher turned full time graduate student. I live in Southern California after a 3 year stint in New Orleans with my husband Slappy (formerly The Fiance) and our cats (yea, we're those people).
In February of 2006 I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, which is a fancy way of saying that my brain was too big for my skull (get it? overflowing brain). On November 27th, 2007 I had brain surgery which allows my brain to exist indefinitely in my spinal canal. 13 staples, one cow heart lining and a multitude of doctors and medications later, I'm living a much improved decompressed life.